Biographies

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“There are three biographies of which I never tire: Augustine’s, Bunyan’s and Halyburton’s. The first is by far the deepest, the second the richest and the most genial, and with Halyburton I feel great intellectual congruity.”

“Presbyterians in the South and the Slave: A Study in Benevolence,” in The Confessional Presbyterian, vol. 3, 2007Buyby Nick Willborn

An excellent historical article chronicling Girardeau’s efforts to minister to the black slaves. Written by one who did his dissertation on Girardeau and is, Lord willing, coming out with the first full length biography of Girardeau.

A classic biography of a Southern general of the Confederate States of America who was remarkable for his devout godliness, unswerving character and Calvinistic convictions. Stonewall said, “My religious belief teaches me to feel as safe in battle as in bed.”

Here is spiritual encouragement for a long ministry of labor and service to others. M’Donald was an influential minister in the Highlands (northern Scotland) of the early 1800′s, the generation before Kennedy when evangelical lights were few and far in-between. Kennedy records these records so that they will not be forgotten.

Samuel Miller, 1791-1850, Buy 1858, thirteen pages of biographical reflection on Miller from William Sprague, James Carnahan, and Nicholas Murray including a bibliography, in William B. Sprague’s Annals of the American Pulpit, vol. 3, p. 600

Nisbet, Charles, 1785-1804, by Samuel Miller, a five page biographical reflection in William B. Sprague’s Annals of the American Pulpit, 1858, p. 455

This is Kennedy’s most well known work, which preserves a glimpse into the deep (somewhat unique) evangelical spirituality of the Highlands from the days before Kennedy. “Ross-shire” is a county (“shire” is a division of land, think Lord of the Rings) in Northern Scotland that is the local area around Dingwall. “Fathers” refers to the revered fathers of the faith of the older generation before Kennedy.

A rich history of early presbyterian ministers in 1700′s America and the revivals that occurred in their time. The “Log College” was the predecessor school to what would culminate in the opening of the first presbyterian seminary in America at Princeton in 1812.

Wilson, Wilson, D.D., 1754-1790, 1859, by Samuel Miller, a three page biographical reflection in William B. Sprague’s Annals of the American Pulpit, vol. 3, p. 17